President Donald Trump delivered a speech at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, urging his supporters to pretend "I'm on the ballot" and energizing them to defy the historic trend of the sitting president's party losing seats in midterms. He touted his accomplishments, promised $5,000 direct payments to American adults if Republicans keep control of Congress, and warned that a Democratic victory would lead to "a ransom negotiation" on every bill. The convention also featured dark warnings about Democrats from Republican leaders, including Rep. Tom Emmer's claim that the election is between "common sense and communism". Over a dozen vulnerable Republicans attended the convention, including Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, who touted Trump's $50 billion rural healthcare fund.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Senate Majority Leader John Thune skipped his scheduled speech at the Republican Party's midterm convention in Texas, opting instead to attend a fundraiser for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. This was notable because Thune had initially supported incumbent Senator Cruz, but is now supporting Paxton.
In related news, First Lady Melania Trump will not be attending her husband's midterm convention in Dallas next week, a significant absence as President Donald Trump attempts to boost momentum for the party ahead of November's elections. At least 45 GOP lawmakers have also told Politico that they won't attend the convention.
The Republican National Committee has scheduled a packed two-day convention, with a total of 109 items and speakers across both nights. Vice President JD Vance will deliver the keynote address on Thursday, while Senator Ted Cruz will speak earlier in the day. The convention is seen as an opportunity for Republicans to rally their base and promote their candidates.
However, some Republicans have expressed concerns that the convention may not be effective in boosting enthusiasm for the party. Many lawmakers, including those facing tight races, are skipping the event or balking at demands that they pony up for access.
Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing a counterprogramming blitz to the GOP's midterm convention. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has announced plans to send four members of his Democratic caucus to Texas to engage with voters and highlight the party's agenda for 2026.
The Republican Party is also trying to win over Hispanic voters at the convention, with a focus on issues such as immigration and border security. However, the party's efforts may be hampered by President Trump's low approval ratings among Hispanic voters.
New York's delegation to the GOP midterm convention has been downgraded from prime seating in 2024 and 2016, with some members expressing surprise at the move. However, the state's Republican leaders are trying to spin the situation positively, with Rep. Mike Lawler set to be a featured speaker.
Written for “RNC Midterm Convention” on 2026-09-10,
grounded in this article and the 37 other(s) covering the same event.
The president urged his supporters to pretend "I'm on the ballot."
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I → urge → ballot
Once again on his party's biggest stage, President Donald Trump put himself in the center of the midterms, urging his supporters to pretend "I'm on the ballot" in a bid to energize the GOP at the party's midterm convention in Dallas.
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I → put → Dallas
"We're running together," Trump said.
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Trump → run → ?
Here are some key takeaways from his speech and the first day of the convention:
'I'm on the ballot, just one more time'
In an arena filled with photos from across his political career, speaking to his most loyal supporters, Trump urged his Republicans to defy the historic trend of the sitting president's party losing seats in the midterms, touting his accomplishments, taunting Democrats and cajoling voters who tuned in.
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who → fill → voters
"This has been the most successful two years, financially and every other way, in the history of the presidency," Trump said.
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Trump → say → presidency
He promised $5,000 direct payments to all American adults if Republicans keep control of both chambers of Congress, though the mechanism and legality of delivering on that promise are unclear.
uncertain
mechanism → promise → promise
Dark warnings about Democrats -- with a surprise appearance
Republicans sharpened their closing message against Democrats, portraying the midterm elections as a binary choice between the GOP and what they described as an increasingly radical Democratic Party.
"This is an election between common sense and communism," Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, warned.
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Emmer → sharpen → sense
"The Democrats' extreme candidates will rip that heart out of our chest.
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candidates → rip → chest
They hate our culture, they hate what it means to be an American," declared Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina.
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Scott → hate → what
And Trump warned that if Republicans lose in November, "You will be going through hell just like we did two years ago.
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we → warn → hell
"
"If they win, every bill becomes a ransom negotiation," he said.
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he → win → ?
The most unexpected criticism of the insurgent left was not from a Republican, but from Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who, in a surprise video appearance praising Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Dave McCormick, pushed back on his own party.
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who → praise → party
I'm always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life," he said.
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he → go → life
Some vulnerable Republicans stick close to Trump
Sen. Susan Collins, the only Republican running for reelection in a state won by Democrats in 2024, was home in Maine on Wednesday.
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Collins → stick → Wednesday
But more than a dozen Republicans in battleground districts traveled to Texas for the convention.
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Republicans → travel → convention
Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin touted the $50 billion rural healthcare fund Trump created in the GOP tax law to offset cuts to Medicaid.
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Trump → tout → Medicaid
"I worked with President Trump" on health care funding, he said.
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he → work → funding
Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a freshman running in Pennsylvania's competitive 8th District, vowed to fight to protect temporary tax relief for overtime from Democrats.
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Bresnahan → run → Democrats
For many House Republicans, embracing Trump is a bet on the president's ability to energize the low-propensity Republican voters that powered him to victory in 2024.
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that → embrace → 2024
"Nobody has brought more enthusiasm to the Republican Party in 40 years," Texas Rep. August Pfluger told ABC News.
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Pfluger → bring → News
With an outside political group with $400 million in the bank and a willingness to boost allies and target critics, Trump remains a GOP kingmaker for anyone hoping to win a Republican primary.
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Trump → boost → primary
"We take care of our bad people," Trump said Wednesday.
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Trump → take → people
"We really take care of our good people.
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We → take → people
Republicans make few mentions of Iran war, but Trump leans in
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Trump → make → war
The unpopular war in Iran was not mentioned by any Republican speaker on the first night of the convention -- until Trump took the stage.
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Trump → mention → stage
"If we didn't hit them with our beautiful ... B-2 bombers, they would have a nuclear weapon right now, and I would be addressing them as Supreme Leader," Trump said.
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Trump → hit → Leader
Though the conflict and its impact on the economy loom over the midterms and threaten Republicans' chances in November, the president repeatedly defended his decision to attack Iran.
"
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president → threaten → Iran
It happens to me all the time.
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It → happen → me
Guys come up, 'You know I wish you didn't do the war in Iran.
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you → come → Iran
Gasoline's up,' and I say ... 'Let me ask you one question: Can Iran have a nuclear weapon?
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Iran → say → weapon
Absolutely not,'" he said to applause.
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he → say → applause
Trump also suggested Iran is prolonging the war to impact the midterms, and mused on renaming the Strait of Hormuz.
"We're going to name it the Trump Strait," he said.
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he → suggest → it
Trump acknowledged the affordability concerns troubling voters, blaming Democrats for the challenge.
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Trump → acknowledge → challenge
And he vowed to aggressively campaign for Republicans down the stretch.
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he → vow → stretch
But he also strayed from the GOP midterm message with comments about the White House ballroom project, the physical appearance of the Texas Senate candidates and what he considered to be the worst trades in sports history.
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he → stray → history
